"When I moved in, in the early '90s, there was nothing, no tress, not shrubs, no flowers - there was only one old rose bush," Heinlein said.

Heinlein said the garden tour is a way to show off Merion Village, but also to inspire gardeners.

"This gives people the opportunity to come and see what regular people can do with their yard," Heinlein said. "I've never spent a penny on a landscape designer."

Laura Geist will be showing off her garden at 43 E. Mithoff St.

Geist said she was asked several times to be on the tour and declined until this year.

The reason, she said, was because the garden wasn't ready, at least until now.

"I keep my yard trimmed and manicured pretty well because that is my relaxation," Geist said, adding she works on the garden five days a week when possible.

The only theme to Geist's garden is her own taste. Some of the plant varieties will include: hydrangea, boxwood, wisteria, Jacobs Ladder, Forget Me Not, daisies and Arizona Sun Blanket.

Geist said no two gardens will be the same.

"I think they are tailored to the personality of the owners," Geist said.

Bill Doughton, who helped organize the event, said this year's tour doesn't have a theme.

He said a benefit to the Merion Village tour is that it allows tourgoers to travel freely throughout the area.

"You explore at your own pace, you visit in your own order," he said. " We want people to wander a bit and see what they like."

One of the highlights of the tour will be the unnamed pocket park at 241 E. Morrill Ave. that was adopted in 2001 by the Urban Achievers 4-H group and local residents. Currently, the group is holding a naming contest that ends July 30.

Tour maps will be available at the Merion Village Information Center, 1330 S. Fourth St.